Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Tuesday 13 December 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Monday 12 Dec 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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PM'S FUGITIVE BROTHER

Thaksin 'swamped' by anxious politicos: Singapore

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POLITICAL CHAOS

'Men in black' are policemen, Chalerm claims

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POLITICS

Noppadon: Peace proposal was my idea, it has nothing to do with Thaksin

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ANALYSIS

Thai Transport Ministry management conflict could affect mega-project developments

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Health watch urged for several areas as mercury drops: Thailand

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AFTERMATH

Bangkok steps up collection of garbage after floods

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Transport Co Considers New Transport Station

The Transport Public Company will reconsider constructing a new transport station to replace the old Mo-Chit station.

Transport Company Managing Director Wutichart Kalyanamit said that he will consult with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning about replacing the Mo-Chit transportation station by January 2012.

Wutichart stated that the Mo-Chit station is getting crowded, as there is a growing number of people living in the area.

Previously, the Transport Public Company has surveyed several areas for replacing the Mo-Chit station.

The Rangsit area was deemed as the most appropriate site, as it is the Bang Sue-Rangsit Red Line Railway Station, which can help train commuters travel easier.

The Transport Public Company has hired staff members of the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lat Krabang to survey appropriate land areas for constructing the new transport station, which must have at least 150 areas of rai at minimum.

Meanwhile, the old Mo-Chit transport station will be converted as a short distance railway route that will limit commuters to travel to landmarks that are no further than 300 kilometers away from Bangkok.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Noppadon Fires Back at Democrat Spokesperson's Accusations

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PAD Coordinator Concerned about Emerging Red Shirt Villages

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PM 'troubled' by murder of Democrat MP's canvasser

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she had instructed the chiefs of the Bangkok and national police forces quickly to find the killer of a canvasser for Democrat Party MP Thankoon Jitissara.

She said she was troubled by Chutidej Suwannakerd's killing, which she described as the sort of incident that should not happen in Thailand.

Asked whether the investigation would be compromised because of allegations that Pheu Thai MPs might be involved in the crime, Yingluck said everything would be done in accordance with the law.

Thankoon, an MP for Bangkok's Don Muang district, is believed to be on a "hit list". Yingluck said she had coordinated with police to provide protection for him.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said the killing of Chutidej could have been either political or personal. Chalerm said he had reminded police to proceed carefully, as a "third hand" sought to create a misunderstanding among the public.

He added that politically motivated killings were not usually carried out in an especially cruel manner, whereas Chutidej had been shot in the mouth.

Asked whether he had spoken to the Pheu Thai MP for Don Muang, Karun Hosakul, Chalerm said he had not, and insisted the case would be handled in a straightforward manner.

National police chief General Priewphan Damaphong held a meeting to discuss the case yesterday for about half an hour. He later said much progress had been made, but it was too early to identify a motive for the killing. Priewphan added, however, that more weight was now being given to personal conflict as the motive, as the victim was a "well-known person" who ran a business trading in Buddhist amulets and had a history of conflict with another traderlast year that led to physical assault(he was assaulted or the other trader?).

Police said mobile-phone records show that the victim had a verbal argument with someone before he was killed(possible for records to show content of conversation?.Thankoon meanwhile said he had no confidence in the police and suspected that a scapegoat would be arrested. He called on Pheu Thai MP Karun to apologise in front of the coffin of his late aide for condescending remarks Karun allegedly made about the victim.

Thankoon vowed not to withdraw from politics despite believing that he may also be marked for death.

-- The Nation 2011-12-13

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

General Sonthi: If we want peace, just don't talk - that's it

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KEEPING CABIN FACTOR

THAI realigns plan for a better year

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IATA urges single airport for Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport, file photo. Source: wikimedia

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MOBILE MARKET

BlackBerry focused on Asia

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RT @BreakingNews: John Atterberry, producer for Brandy, the Spice Girls, dies after being shot Friday in Hollywood - KCBS http://cbsloc.al/tCtxrw

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Intel lowers outlook on disk drive shortage

NEW YORK, December 13, 2011 (AFP) - US computer chip giant Intel lowered its fourth-quarter outlook on Monday, citing a hard disk drive shortage caused by flooding in Thailand.

Intel said it expected revenue of between $13.4 billion and $14 billion in the fourth quarter, down from its previous forecast of between $14.2 billion and $15.2 billion.

"Sales of personal computers are expected to be up sequentially in the fourth quarter," Intel said in a statement.

"However, the worldwide PC supply chain is reducing inventories and microprocessor purchases as a result of hard disk drive supply shortages."

Intel said it expects disk drive supply shortages to continue into the first quarter of next year, "followed by a rebuilding of microprocessor inventories as supplies of hard disk drives recover during the first half of 2012."

Months of flooding this year shut down many hard disk drive factories in Thailand, which supplies about 40 percent of the world market for the crucial components.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-13

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Air-conditioned bus no. 508 parked on left lane at Bangna expressway inbound on bridge after Sukhumvit 62 entrance causes congestion /TANN

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2011 Motor Expo Wraps Up

The 2011 motor exposition wrapped up yesterday with 1.4 million people visiting the event throughout its 12 days.

Motor Expo 2011's Organizing Chairman, Kwanchai Papaspong said a total of 1.4 million people visited the event since the first day, exceeding the original target of 1.2 million.

22 thousand units were reserved during the past 11 days and this should go up to 25 thousands once everything is wrapped up.

Kwanchai stated that pick-up trucks were the vehicle most people were interested in, followed by sedans.

Meanwhile, subcompact cars garnered less interest, as major auto makers in this category were affected by the floods.

He then said the present slowdown in the new car market is not the result of sluggish demand, but from manufacturing and delivery problems due to floods.

Kwanchai said the new car market will pick up again and he expects it to grow 15 percent.

The Motor Expo chairman asked the government to clarify its energy policy after suggesting it abandon promoting natural gas among motorists while suggesting that flood prevention measures also be clarified to convince foreign car makers not to relocate their production bases elsewhere.

Over the past 11 days of the event, Nissan reported the highest reservations followed by Mazda, Isuzu, Ford and Mitsubishi, while Toyata and Honda are still having delivery problems, as their assembly facilities in flood-hit industrial estates cannot resume normal operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Drug Dealers Aressted with 370,000 Amphetamine Pills

Bang Khae police officers and the Narcotics Control Bureau have arrested drug dealers from one of the largest drug networks, and seized around 300,000 amphetamine pills.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung held a press conference after Bang Khae police officers and the Narcotics Control Bureau successfully arrested three suspects on drug trafficking.

The suspects possessed 370,050 amphetamine pills and 57.5 kilograms of ice pills worth more than 200 million baht.

Police officers also confiscated illegal guns, two pick-up trucks, and other 28 items.

The Narcotics Control Bureau revealed that one of the suspects, Krissada Kraihom, delivered drugs to local drug agents in Bang Khae and the surrounding districts.

All three suspects were arrested at the Lotus Department store at Bang Khae branch on December 11.

After that, officers searched for additional drugs in their room in Bang Khae and Bang Bon districts.

At the first interrogation, the three suspects claimed they received the drugs by an inmate named Wong, and that they would receive 20,000 baht for each successful drug delivery.

Officers charged them with possession of type-one narcotics with intent to sell.

Chalerm said the case may involved with the recent drug smuggling case which distributed from Chiang rai Province, adding that the three suspects have been selling drugs for a long time due to their numbers of drugs.

He added that Royal Thai Police officers will work closely with the Narcotics Control Bureau to crackdown narcotics rings seriously in the north and northeastern provinces after the New Year festival.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Mixed messages: Phuket short on teachers, or schools short on job ads?

JOBSEEKERS: Numerous TEFL training course providers graduate a plethora of certified job seekers who have degrees. Photo: Siam Educational Experience TEFL

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RT @BBCBreaking: Burma allows opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party to register, state media report. Details soon: http://bbc.in/tbKd7

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,032.31, down 1.69 points /MCOT

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Lardlumkaew, Pathum Thani locals close off Route 340 to call for drainage of floodwater from their area /TANN

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Army Commander to Discuss About Insurgency Violence in Southern Border Provinces

The Fourth Army Region commander chaired a meeting to discuss the insurgency violence in three southern border provinces.

Yesterday, at the 5th Infantry Regiment of Military Circle 42 of Senanarong Army Camp in Songkhla's Hat Yai District, Fourth Army Region commander Lieutenant general Udomchai Thammasarorat chaired a meeting to discuss the insurgency violence in the three southern border provinces with Customs Director General Somchai Poonsawad and other affiliated units.

The meeting was held in secret and the media was only allowed to record the beginning of the meeting.

The topics that were discussed included illegal oil smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

Udomchai gave an interview before attending the meeting saying that the two main issues to be discussed were the smuggling of illegal oil and drugs at the borders.

Meanwhile, the Customs Department is also providing support to the Fourth Army Region to solve these problems.

Udomchai further said that the insurgent groups are receiving funding from illegal oil and drug smuggling.

Thus, stricter measures are necessary to stop trafficking in the country.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Many Thai provinces affected by current drought crisis

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Lampang Residents Urged Officials to Restore A Section of Highway Number 11

Residents using Highway number 11 urged road repair units to reconstruct a boundary road that was damaged in a landslide two months ago, which caused a number of accidents.

Highway police came to accommodate traffic at the kilometer marker number 37 of Highway number 11 in Lampang's Mae Ta District.

The inbound route was damaged as a result of the torrential rains that fell during October, which caused the road surface to erode, leaving only one lane open to traffic.

It is already an area prone to accidents, since the road is a curve that slopes downhill.

Furthermore, since October, there have been torrential downpours in many areas of Lampang Province, causing three meter land slides along the road's surface, leaving only one lane available.

The road has not be restored yet since two months after the land slide.

Residents using this route urged the District Office of Lampang Province to quickly repair the area, as a number of vehicles use this road to get to Phrae and Nan provinces during the New Years celebration.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Floods Continue in 10 Provinces, Death Toll Reaches 693

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department discloses that ten provinces in Thailand remain flooded and that the flood death toll stands at 693.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that flooding continues in 11 provinces namely Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Saphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, and Bangkok.

This year's flood death toll has reached 693, while over 1.65 million households, or around 4.4 million victims, remain affected and three people are still missing.

Since July 25, the floods struck 65 out of 77 provinces and rehabilitation is now underway in 55 provinces where the situation has eased.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Warning Center has announced seven districts in two provinces as disaster zones since November 2 due to a cold spell.

They are Omkoi, Samoeng, Chom Thong, Fang, Galyani Vadhana, and Mae Ai in Chiang Mai Province and Pang Mapha in Mae Hong Son Province.

-- Tan Network 2011-12-13

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Local resident shot dead in Pattani

PATTANI, Dec 13 -- A villager was gunned down in Nong Chik district in this southern border province while riding to work Tuesday morning, according to local police.

The victim was identified as Wirat Bamrungwong, 43, Pol Col Chonnawee Chamareuk, superintendent of Nong Chik police station, said.

Pol Col Chonnawee led a combined force of police and soldiers to inspect and investigate the crime scene on a highway in the district.

A preliminary investigation found that Mr Wirat was shot once in his head by two assailants on a motorcycle armed with a pistol while he was riding the motorcycle to work at a lathe factory in the provincial seat.

The victim died immediately at the crime scene, Col Chonnawee reported.

Initially, police investigators presumed that the shooting was aimed at continuing the atmosphere of daily violence in the province.

The violence in the three southernmost border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have escalated since 2004 with bombings and shootings occurring on an almost daily basis. So far, the insurgency has claimed about 4,800 lives, including residents and government officials. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-13